Justice for Hire Read online

  Annie hit a final key and sat back. In a few seconds, the printer hummed and pages eased out into the tray.

  “I’m printing the satellite view of the area, as well as a road map.”

  “It looks like we’re going on a trip,” Jake said.

  “We are.”

  Chapter 56

  Friday, August 26th, 11:13 AM

  AS JAKE DROVE, Annie used a fluorescent green highlighter and marked places of interest on the satellite map. There was beginning to be a lot of green circles.

  “There are too many possibilities here,” she said. “It would take all day just to drive past them all, and much longer to check them out thoroughly.”

  Jake was taking frequent glances at the map, moving his eyes from the road and back again. “The way I see it, there are only two main roads leading from the city to that part of the countryside.”

  Annie looked at Jake. “What are you getting at?”

  Jake reached over and pointed to the map. “See that road there, coming from the city?” He moved his finger. “And that one there?”

  “Yes.”

  Jake put his hand on the steering wheel and turned his eyes to the road. “If the Escalade comes into the city, it would have to use either of those two roads to go there and come back again.”

  Annie understood. “You think we should stake out those two roads?”

  Jake pulled over to the side and stopped. “That’s what I’m saying. Let’s see the road map.”

  Annie handed it to him and he studied it. “Let’s just say, for the sake of argument, they go to the Auburn Street area again. There are too many streets for us to cover, but when they return, I’m betting they would take Valleydale Sideroad.” He pointed to the map and traced the route with his finger. “To here at least.”

  Annie said, “And after that, there are a lot of possibilities.”

  “Right.” He touched a spot on the map. “But if we stake out here somewhere, we’ll see them if they’re out today.”

  “You think that’s a possibility?” Annie asked.

  “I think it’s more than a possibility. I think it’s a probability they come into the city every day.”

  “Then, let’s do it.”

  Jake pulled the Firebird back onto the road. “We should’ve brought your car. Mine’s too easy to identify if they see us.”

  “Then, let’s make sure they don’t see us.”

  They drove several minutes before reaching the area Jake had indicated on the map. He drove slowly, looking for a place to park where they could watch the road and not be seen from passing vehicles.

  Annie pointed to a lane-way on the right, which led back to a farmhouse far beyond, the entranceway partially hidden by a row of trees. “Stop there.”

  “Looks good.” Jake pulled beyond the lane, backed in and stopped. From their vantage point, they could see the road between the branches of the trees, just enough to make out oncoming vehicles.

  They sat and waited.

  And waited.

  Annie had brought some sandwiches and bottles of water. They had polished off the meal some time ago, and Jake had stretched back, his eyes closed.

  Annie had climbed from the vehicle, and was sitting on the grass, carefully watching the road. Several cars had passed, a few SUVs, but no black Escalade yet.

  She was beginning to think they were on the wrong track when she saw an SUV coming up the road, and it looked like an Escalade. Black. She squinted. With tinted windows.

  She watched as it came closer, and then she hopped up and opened the door of the Firebird. “Finally, there it is,” she said.

  Jake was startled from his nap and sat forward. He glanced toward the oncoming vehicle, started the car and grinned at Annie as she jumped in. “Let’s hope that’s it.”

  “Should I call Hank?”

  “It’s just a black Escalade. There’s no guarantee it’s the right one.”

  “Maybe. Maybe not,” Annie said, more sure than Jake they had the right vehicle. They were in farm country, and farmers would be unlikely own that type of vehicle. They would be more apt to use pickup trucks. Why would an Escalade be traveling side roads?

  “Whatever you think,” Jake said. “It won’t hurt to let him know where we are.”

  Annie slipped out her cell phone and hit speed dial. “No signal,” she said. “They need to get more towers out here.”

  “We’ll try again later.”

  They watched as the vehicle drove by, and then Jake touched the gas and eased onto the road. He stayed back far enough, so, if the Firebird was seen by the driver, it wouldn’t be recognized.

  After several minutes, the Escalade turned onto a side road. Jake hung back, barely keeping the SUV in sight as it kicked up clouds of dust. Jake followed the dust as the vehicle made a couple of turns.

  And then, the Escalade disappeared around a curve.

  Jake touched the gas and sped up. When they rounded the curve, the SUV was gone.

  “He’s pulled off somewhere,” Annie said, glancing around.

  They saw a farmhouse with a modern barn off to their left. Across the road was another house, this one with an old barn and a pond in front. Up further was another group of buildings.

  Jake pulled to the side of the road while Annie flipped open the glove compartment and dug out a pair of binoculars. She scanned the properties around them, looking for signs of the Escalade.

  “I don’t see it,” she said.

  “It’s got to be at one of these three properties.” Jake pointed to a narrow service lane leading into a field. “I’ll back in there and we can have a look around.” He turned the steering wheel, kicked up gravel, spun around, and backed into the lane-way. The vehicle was hidden from view of the houses, behind a thick row of pine trees, which separated the two properties.

  They climbed from the vehicle and Annie glanced around. She pointed to the house with the old barn. “That one has a pickup truck parked in front.” She waved toward the group of buildings further up the road. “I can make out a couple of cars on that property.” She turned to the house with the modern barn. “But none there. We should try that one first.”

  “And what if there’s somebody home?” Jake asked.

  Annie thought a moment. “Tell them we’re looking for directions.”

  “Then, where’s our vehicle?”

  “Good point. Maybe tell them our car broke down and we want to use their phone.”

  Jake nodded. “That works for me.”

  They went up the long driveway toward the house. There was a garage attached to the dwelling at one end. Annie scrutinized the front windows of the house and saw no signs of life, so she scooted over to the far side of the garage and peeked through a small window. There was lots of junk, but no vehicle inside.

  She joined Jake. “The garage is empty. This doesn’t appear to be the right place.”

  Jake looked at the front of the dwelling. “And I haven’t seen anyone moving around inside.”

  Annie climbed the steps to the front door and rang the bell. There was no answer after the third attempt. She looked at Jake and shook her head.

  Jake circled the house toward the back yard and Annie followed. No one was there either, so she climbed the back porch. The inner door was open and she called through the screen door, “Hello?”

  No answer.

  She tested the door; it was unlocked. She looked back at Jake and he shrugged. She wasn’t sure whether to go in or not. It didn’t appear to be the correct house, but she swung the door open and stepped into the kitchen. She called again, “Hello?”

  Still no answer.

  She went through the kitchen and into a hallway leading to the front room. There was a door to the right. She pulled it open and peered down a set of wooden stairs into the darkness below. A musty smell stung her nose. She closed the door and peeked into the sparsely furnished living room.

  Nothing looked unusual, although the house appeared dusty and unused. Sh
e went back to the kitchen and opened the fridge. There were fresh vegetables in the crisper and the contents of a carton of milk didn’t smell sour.

  She returned to join Jake. “Nothing out of place, but somebody lives here and they’re not home.”

  “Wrong house,” Jake said. “Let’s try the one up the road further.”

  They walked to the road and toward the car. Jake stopped. “I want to go back and look in the barn, just in case.”

  Annie turned around. “You go ahead. I’ll take another look at the maps and wait for you in the car.”

  Chapter 57

  Friday, August 26th, 1:47 PM

  AS JAKE APPROACHED the barn, he stopped and looked around. It struck him as odd that the vast fields surrounding the property weren’t cultivated, and there were no signs any type of grain or corn, crops common to the area, had been planted either this year or last.

  The barn itself appeared to have been built within the last few years. It was a sprawling building, with a round, wooden roof, supported by solid, windowless concrete walls.

  The near end of the structure was mainly one large wooden door, a man door beside it, with a small window at each end.

  Jake moved to the closest window and peeked inside.

  A black Escalade.

  He stepped back quickly. This was the place, but is this the vehicle, which had been seen when David was abducted?

  Only one way to find out.

  He crept to the window again, and took a longer look. By the dim lighting inside, he could see the area where the vehicle was parked was walled off from the rest of the building. The large room had enough space for two or three vehicles, but the Escalade was the only one inside. Another door led deeper into the building’s interior.

  A set of shelving on the far wall contained neat rows of white boxes. A workbench held more boxes, tools, and large bottles of water.

  No one had been inside the house, so the driver of the vehicle could be inside this building somewhere. He had to get inside and take a look around.

  He tested the man door. Locked.

  He circled the building completely. There were no more windows or doors; this was the only way in. He peered through the window again, and then stepped back quickly. The door leading into the rest of the building was opening. He chanced another look. A man, possibly the driver, was coming his way, and he was huge.

  Jake stepped back and moved around the corner of the building and waited. He heard a metallic grind as the outer door creaked, and then footsteps on gravel and the door slammed.

  He breathed cautiously and waited. He could hear the man’s feet on gravel as he shuffled about, just around the corner. There was a faint metallic click, and then the smell of a freshly-lit cigarette as smoke wafted past.

  Then, came a rasping voice. He was on the phone. “No luck today.” Silence, and then, “Yeah, we just couldn’t find anyone suitable. We’ll try again tomorrow.” Then, “Yes, sir. I’ll tell him.”

  There was more silence. He’d finished with his phone call.

  Jake eased forward and peeked around the corner as the man ground his cigarette into the gravel.

  This may be his best chance and he had to do something now.

  He stepped around the corner and pounced, bore the brute to the ground and straddled him. He punched the ugly face twice before being thrown off onto the sharp gravel. The stones bit into his arm as he twisted and sprang to his feet.

  The monster growled like a hungry bear as he spun to a crouch and leaped forward. He clamped Jake around the legs and they both went down again.

  The goon was on top, snarling, one hand reaching for the gun strapped to his chest, the other around Jake’s neck. He had the gun free but Jake swung a massive fist and knocked it from the man’s grasp. It spun across the gravel. As the goon leaped for it, Jake’s boot caught him full in the chest. Breath shot from the thug with a whoosh as he was sent sprawling onto his back. Jake rolled toward the weapon, wrapped his hand around it and sprang to his feet, the gun in his hand.

  He’d never owned a gun, and didn’t know how to use one in the way it was intended. As the brute growled and reached for him with powerful arms, Jake swung his fist back, the butt end of the weapon catching the thug on the side of his head. The brute groaned as a second swing knocked him to the ground, out cold.

  Jake tucked the gun behind his belt and looked at the man. He wasn’t as tough as he looked, and he would be unconscious awhile.

  He opened the door to the building and dragged the thug inside. He dug in the cartons on the shelves and came up with a box of medical equipment. Two lab coats were folded neatly inside. With the help of a sharp metal corner of the shelf, he was able to tear one of them into strips, and he bound the goon’s arms and legs securely.

  He tested the restraints. The thug was strong, but it should hold.

  He tied a double strip of cloth around the man’s ugly mouth, making sure he could breathe properly, and then dragged him over to the workbench and rolled him underneath. He wouldn’t be seen there if anyone else came around.

  He peeked through the tinted glass into the back of the Escalade. It was empty. In the front seat, the keys were in the ignition, but it was empty as well.

  He turned his attention to the inner door. It was unlocked. He withdrew the weapon from his waist, studied it a moment, and then eased the door open.

  There was a long hallway in front of him, several rooms leading off at each side, and a large room at the end, dead ahead.

  He listened a moment, and then stepped inside and eased the door closed behind him. He crept up the hall, the weapon in his hand, toward the brightly lit room. Something hummed, machinery of some kind, enough to cover any noise his feet made as he inched forward.

  He heard the sound of breathing behind him, and then felt a massive blow on the back of his head. His sight blurred and his thoughts faded as he crumbled to the floor.

  Chapter 58

  Friday, August 26th, 2:02 PM

  ANNIE LOOKED at her watch. Jake had been gone for fifteen minutes and he should’ve been back by now.

  She stepped from the Firebird and moved to the tree line where she could see the barn. She couldn’t see Jake, and wondered if he’d gone inside, and if so, what was taking him so long.

  Her heart stopped as she was startled by a blackbird that squawked in the tree above her head, and then fluttered and soared away, screaming as it went.

  She laughed uneasily, and as her heart took on its normal rhythm, considered going to the building, but decided to give it a few more minutes. Jake was probably inside looking around, or perhaps, out of sight behind the barn.

  She went back to the car, got the maps and sat on the grass studying them. She wanted to take a look at the other nearby properties. She could drive there herself, but thought it better to wait for Jake to return.

  She grabbed the binoculars and zoomed in on the buildings up the road. The vehicles she’d seen earlier hadn’t moved, and not a soul was in sight. Across the road, all remained the same as before. She trained the lenses toward the barn where Jake had gone. She could see the large wooden door, with the small door beside it.

  She lowered the binoculars and went back to the car, beginning to feel uneasy. She would wait, but not much longer.

  ~~*~~

  AS JAKE’S SENSES began to return, he felt a pounding in the back of his head. He lay on a hard surface; a concrete floor perhaps.

  As his vision sharpened, he rolled to his back and attempted to clear his mind. He’d been slugged from behind.

  He heard a laugh and swung his head in the direction of the sound. A goon, a different one, leaned against the wall, leering at him. He had a pistol in his hand, trained his way.

  “Lay still.”

  Jake turned his head and examined his predicament. He was in a white room, lying on the floor. There was a small cot pushed against the wall near him. The goon was by an open door that led into the hallway.

  He to
ok a chance and struggled to a sitting position. The man was smaller than the one he’d tied up earlier, but was too far away to attempt anything, and unlike himself, the goon looked adept with the weapon clenched in his fist.

  “Welcome back,” the thug said, and laughed again.

  Jake only glared.

  The man’s smile turned to a frown. “What are you doing here?”

  “I’m selling vacuum cleaners.”

  “And I’m Santa Claus. Now tell me what you want, or . . .” The goon leveled the gun. “Bang, bang.”

  Jake stood slowly to his feet. “I’m looking for David Haines.”

  “Never heard of him. Now, sit back down.” He waved the gun, and Jake sat down on the cot and leaned back.

  “Stay there.” He grinned and reached into his jacket and removed a wallet. “Here’s your wallet, Jake Lincoln.” He tossed it at Jake.

  Jake caught the wallet and watched as the man removed a cell phone from his jacket pocket, and kept one eye on his prisoner while he dialed.

  “Mr. Craig, we caught Jake Lincoln. He was snooping around here.”

  Jake could hear a voice come through the phone. He couldn’t tell what was said, but whoever it was, he was shouting.

  “Don’t worry, he’s not getting away,” the thug said.

  The goon listened to the voice on the phone, and then, “Yes, he’s alone.” Then, “Yes, I’m sure she’s not here.” More listening, and then, “I’ll check around outside. He must have got here somehow, and when I find his car, hopefully she’s there too.”

  The thug listened intently, and then, “I’ll tell Wolff you’re on your way.” He hung up the phone, slipped it back into his pocket and smiled. “The boss is coming over. I’m sure he’ll be happy to meet you.” He laughed. “And before we’re done with you, you’ll be worshipping at his feet.”

  The thug turned, left the room and pulled the door closed behind him. Jake heard a grating as a bolt lock slid shut.

  He raced to the door but it was securely locked. As he shook it, the metal barrier rattled on its hinges, but remained solid.